Continuous type skylight device

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to a continuous type skylight device comprising a skirting, a base section having a external grooved edge, pairs of generally equidistant curved crosspieces and, between the said crosspieces, curved plates and end panels attached between the pair of crosspieces or arches and the terminal base sections.

United States Patent 1 1 J anssen [76] Inventor:

1 1 CONTINUOUS TYPE SKYLIGHT DEVICE Leopold Mathieu Lambert Janssen, 28 Rue de lAn'cien Chateau, Herseaux, Belgium 1221 Filed: Dec. 1, 1971 .[21] Appl. No.: 203,749

[52] US. Cl. 52/200, 52/204 [51] Int. Cl E04b 7/18, E04d 13/03 [58] Field of Search ..'52/l99, 200, 202,

{56] 1 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENT 2,842,073 7/1958 Huston et al. 1 52/200 1,840,041 111932,- Kellogg 52/200 1,931,750 10/1933 Blaski 52/209 3,307,309 3/1967 Bloxsom 52/200 2,874,653 2/1959 Ratner 52/209 3,325,951 6/1967- Johnson... 52/200 1,835,784 12 1931 Kiefer 52/200 1,772,068 8/1930 52 200 Cibulas 1,769,013 7/1930 Blaski 52/200 3,473,276 10/1969 Back et a1 ,5'2/200 3,434,250 3/1969 Kiekhalfer 52/2'00 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,394,162 2/1964 France 52/200 444,442 2/1968 Switzerland... 52/200 1,507,998 11/1967 France 52/200 306,297 9/1952 Switzerland, 52/200 723,263 2/1955 Great Britain 52/200 Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant ExaminerLes1ie A. Braun Attorney-V. Alexander Scher [57] ABSTRACT The invention pertains to a continuous type skylight device comprising a skirting, a base sectionhaving a external grooved edge, pairs of generally equidistant curved crosspieces and, betweenv the said crosspieces,

curved plates and end panels attached between the pair of crosspieces or arches and the terminal base sections.

3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED m1 '21913 sum 2 or 3 INVENTOR. L. N.L,]an.15 an PATENTED w 21m sum 3 0F 3 INVENTOR. Z -Jan en ATTO'L N E35 CONTINUOUS TYPE SKYLIGHT DEVICE This invention concerns the technique of the socalled continuous type skylights, that is to say that they can be made on infinitely variable lengths by using ordinary elements and standard elements whose setting up is easy, rapid and economical.

Such skylights can be spread out on large roof surfaces and, even, in certain cases, according to one of the characteristics of the invention, constitute a complete roof.

The skylights according to the invention can be of the single or double type without modifying the basis technique. The elements, generally transparent or translucent, intended to shape the skylight are constituted of ordinary sheets generally of synthetic resin, such as methacrylate. These sheets can be flat, in such cases they are curved when fitting; or else the said sheets are previously curved in proportion to the curve radius after fitting.

One can also pre-curve partly and continue the curving when fitting. The initial morphology essentially depends on the technological characteristics of the said sheets, that is to say also the used material.

The skylight according to the invention is characterized in that it substantially consists of the combination of at least one skirting or similar support; fixed to the said support, a base'section prolonged towards the exterior by a hollow skirting, pairs of curved cross-pieces or arches generally equidistant resting up and being attached into the said skirting and, between the said cross-pieces or arches, curved plates or sheets whose curved fringing edges are engaged and fixed between the said cross-pieces or arches of each pair, some closescreens or butt strips being attached between the said cross-pieces or arches by resting upon the said base sections and the said sheets or panels, the. skylight being completed by the butt partition attached between the pair of cross-pieces or arches and the terminal base sections.

The joining elements between the successive curved sheets are constituted substantially by two arches operating like jaws and between which are imprisoned and attached the abutting edges adjacent to two neighbouring curved sheets.

The attachment elements are substantially constituted by a special section susceptible of being attached on the skirting or an equivalent support. This section is such that it is susceptible of housing the rectilinear exterior edges of the said curved sheets and to permit setting up an attachment element, respectively an interlocking one, between the two arches of each pair.

The skylight can evidently be completed by any accessory disposition and, especially by the close-screens or butt strips; by flat butt partitions, by opening parts, etc.

By virtue of an ordinary example, without any limiting character, some embodiments are described much more fully hereafter by referring to the enclosed drawings in which:

FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a skylight according to the invention, this skylight being a single or double partition;

FIG. 2 represents a diagrammatically perspective view of a drift or equivalent support;

FIG. 3 represents a section view according to the line III-III of FIG. I, the considered skylight being of the single type partition;

FIG. 4 represents an enlarged scale view of the part indicated at F4 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 represents a sectional view along the line V-V of FIG. 1, the skylight in consideration being of the single type partition;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view along the line VI-VI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 represents a sectional view along the line VII- VII of FIG. 1, the considered skylight being of the single type partition;

FIG. 8 is similar to FIG. 3, but applies to a double partitioned skylight;

FIG. 9 is similar to FIG. 5, but applies to a double partitioned skylight; I

FIG. 10 represents a sectional view along the line XX of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is similar to FIG. 7, but applies to a double partitioned skylight;

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, the skylight is substantially constituted by the combination of the skirting or underlying support 1, a section 2 applied to make the framework of the base formed of sidemembers and crosspieces, the twin type arches 3, the filling panels 4 and the butt partitions 5.

The skirting or equivalent support 1 can be regularized in any suitable manner in proportion to the type and dimensions of the skylight. In the circumstances, the skirting is represented by a concrete frame formed by the side-members 6-7, and the crosspieces 8-9, the upper surface being fitted with seals, in the circumstance with butyl yarn 10-11. The section 2 is characterized by a flat 12 whose longitudinal edge forms an open tubular element 13 and whose other longitudinal edge is prolonged in order to present, in the circumstances, successively, an open tubular element 14 and a gutter 15 to recuperate the condensation water and an edge 16 presenting a straight section in the form of a U, whose median shaft XX is inclined at an angle a which is also or approximately the angle of the tangent YY of the fringing edges of the filling panels 4. The free end or the outside of the said edge 16 is directed towards the interior, thus forming a stub 17 whose free end is arranged in the shape of a hooking catch 18.

The arches or crosspieces 3 are double and formed, respectively of a lower arch or crosspiece l9 and an exterior arch or crosspiece 20. Both are constituted by a flat, respectively 21-22, whose longitudinal edges are straightened out so as to form the lateral ribs, respectively 23-24 and 25-26, whose free marginal edges present an over-thickness directed towards the inside.

The lower arch or crosspiece 19 presents, on its inside surface, two ribs 27-28 while the upper arch or crosspiece 20 presents, on its inside surface, two ribs 20-30 delimiting an open type tubular element whose outside diameter is approximatively equal to the distance holding apart the inside lateral surfaces of the ribs 27-28 of the lower crosspiece or arch.

In the axis of the said crosspieces or arches, the bottom of the said edges 16 presents a hole 31 for passing a fixation screw 32. On the said edges are attached the close-screen or butt strips 33 which comprise a sectioned rib 34 which hooks up to the hooking latch 18 while taking rest, on the one hand, on the external surface of the edge 16 and, on the other hand, on the adjoining part of the filling plates or panels 4.

As schematized on FIGS. 8 to 11, one can, with the same elements, realize skylights with twin partitions by superposing two pairs of crosspieces or arches. In the said Figure, reference is made to corresponding parts of the previous embodiment described in FIGS. 1 to 7 relating to a single partition skylight.

In either case, the skylights can be terminated by the double type partitions 5, in the circumstances formed by an opaque panel 35, transparent or translucent, fixed between a U-type rectilinear crosspiece 36 integral with a section 2 and a spring connection 37 presenting a T-type rib 38 closed up between the corresponding raised edges of the crosspieces or arches 2l-22, the exterior part of the said connecting part 37 presents a section in U form in which is engaged the abutting curved edge of the said panel 35.1

In the embodiment of such a single partitioned skylight, it just requires setting up the skirting 1 and attaching some sections 2 on the upper surfaces of the said skirting arranged in the same plane, which will form the properly so called seating base of the skylight.

Afterwards, the lower crosspieces or arches 21 will befitted at a suitable distance. On the crosspieces or arches generally equidistant so immobilized the filling panels 4 will be applied. Afterwards an upper crosspiece or arch 22 will be superposed to each cross-piece or arch 21. The crosspieces of each pair will be firmly interlocked by inserting the clamping screw 32 which, engaging into the corresponding open type tubular rib 29-30, will firmly apply these against the corresponding part of the ribs 27-28 of the corresponding interior crosspiece or arch.

For the double type partition skylights, one will operate according to the same operational cycle successively for each one of the pairs of crosspieces or arches, respectively for each panel.

The skylights according to the invention can evidently be set up in essentially variable forms and dimensions. The sections described for the base elements as well as for the crosspieces or arches and the closescreens or butt strips are essentially variable in so far as they fulfil the same function or an equivalent function in the scope of the invention. This also concerns the skylights themselves as in the virtue of a new industrial product each one of the characteristic constitutive elements of the said skylights.

What I claim is:

l. Skylight device comprising: a support, a base section fixed on top of said support, said base section having an inclined peripheral channel having a U-shaped cross-section with a base presenting a plurality of holes, pairs of cross-pieces extending between opposite walls of said support, one cross-piece of each said pair having a U-shaped crosssection and presenting a median tubular rib adapted to receive a screw thread and the other cross-piece of each said pair having a U-shaped cross-section and presenting two parallel ribs, said tubular rib being engaged between said two parallel ribs, sheets having marginal edges each engaged between the cross-pieces of a pair of cross-pieces, and clamping screws each screwed through a hole of a said peripheral channel in a said median tubular rib of a cross-piece of a pair of cross-pieces.

2. Skylight according to claim 1, wherein said base section comprises a flat part with a longitudinal edge in the form of an open tubular rib and with another longitudinal edge which is prolongated outwardly so as to successively form a second open tubular rib, a water collector gutter, said inclined U-shaped channel having an outer wall forming a hooking edge, and cover-strips fixed between said cross-pieces and attached to said hooking edge.

3. Skylight according to claim 2, wherein said base section includes a first vertical U-shaped channel, a second U-shaped channel having a lateral T-shaped rib being secured with said T-shaped rib between the cross-pieces of a pair of cross-pieces and wherein an end sheet is mounted between said base section and said pair of cross-pieces with its marginal edges inserted in said first and second U-shaped channels. 

1. Skylight device comprising: a support, a base section fixed on top of said support, said base section having an inclined peripheral channel having a U-shaped cross-section with a base presenting a plurality of holes, pairs of cross-pieces extending between opposite walls of said support, one cross-piece of each said pair having a U-shaped cross-section and presenting a median tubular rib adapted to receive a screw thread and the other cross-piece of each said pair having a U-shaped cross-section and presenting two parallel ribs, said tubular rib being engaged between said two parallel ribs, sheets having marginal edges each engaged between the cross-pieces of a pair of cross-pieces, and clamping screws each screwed through a hole of a said peripheral channel in a said median tubular rib of a cross-piece of a pair of cross-pieces.
 2. Skylight according to claim 1, wherein said base section comprises a flat part with a longitudinal edge in the form of an open tubular rib and with another longitudinal edge which is prolongated outwardly so as to successively form a second open tubular rib, a water collector gutter, said inclined U-shaped channel having an outer wall forming a hooking edge, and cover-strips fixed between said cross-pieces and attached to said hooking edge.
 3. Skylight according to claim 2, wherein said base section includes a first vertical U-shaped channel, a second U-shaped channel having a lateral T-shaped rib being secured with said T-shaped rib between the cross-pieces of a pair of cross-pieces and wherein an end sheet is mounted between said base section and said pair of cross-pieces with its marginal edges inserted in said first and second U-shaped channels. 